Quick links

All the latest news and views from Stamford Bridge including the third round in the verbal fight between Chelsea player and Liverpool goalkeeper.

Chelsea forward Demba Ba has stressed the importance of bouncing back from the FA Cup heartbreak against Manchester City.

The seldom-used striker, who has scored twice in three Champions League appearances and either scored or assisted every 79 minutes he is on a Premier League pitch this season, has called on his team-mates to show their championship mettle by defeating in-form and high-flying Everton when the two sides collide on Saturday, February 22 at Stamford Bridge.

He is quoted by the club's official website to have said: 'We lost the last game in the FA Cup and we don't want to lose two in a row. That would be bad.

'We are just going to do everything on Saturday because it's important to get back to winning ways, it's important for the title race and it's important for our confidence.'

Meanwhile, there is a inter-club rivalry fast developing by fellow Belgians Thibaut Courtois, on loan at Atletico Madrid and Liverpool shot-stopper Simon Mignolet. Both goalkeepers are performing exceptionally this season and both athletes obviously harbour intentions on claiming the number one jersey for their nation at this summer's festival of football; the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Mignolet wants the shirt off of Courtois' back, who was displeased weeks ago, claiming the Liverpool star should be 'humble'. Now he has said: 'It shows that you do not accept the choice of the coach, and at the same time you show no respect for the current number one.

'But I do not want my statements to appear like last time. Then it sounded like I said Mignolet may show no ambition. That’s not true. I understand that he has the ambition to become the number one in the Belgian goal, only you should also show respect for those who play.'